Starting with a French Armoire

So EXCITED to share my first Annie Sloan Chalk Paint project for my first post!  Welcome to my blog!

 

                     For my first project.....My French Armoire! 

Here is the 'before' picture.  I found it on Craigslist...and my husband hauled it home.....not sure how many pieces, but I wish I had a picture of it in a pile in my living room.....it was quite a task to assemble!  Once we got it put all together it was obvious I would be painting it assembled and in our living room. There was no way we were going to go through that process a second time!!

The Armoire had a lot of water damage and as you can see there was a lot of peeling veneer and I wasn't sure what to do with that. Some of it I just peeled off. 

 

Some of it needed a lot of wood filler and sanding.  (Sorry about that glare!)

 

 

Initially I wasn't sure what to do with metal details.....

 

 

I also wasnt sure what colors to use.

Here you can see Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Coco on the upper left, Country Grey on the right and Old White on the bottom left.  I walked by these swatches a few days until I knew what I wanted to do.

 

I decided to paint the entire piece in ASCP Country Grey. Then, following the lines of the original veneer, I added contrast with ASCP Old White.   You can see here were I started to doubt myself and tried a little ASCP Old White on the front to see if I would like it better....but I stuck to my plan.

 

I was able to see the veneer through the first coat, so it was easy to tape off.

 

 

I wasn't sure what to do with the metal pieces until I saw how they looked unpainted. They were much too dark and I didn't like the contrast. So I painted them and then wiped off a little of the paint.

 

 

Getting there...After getting to this point, I decided to add some Old White to the top piece and on the legs.

 

I very lightly sanded; including the metal.  I absolutely LOVE the little glimmer of gold shining through the chalk paint!

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is all painted,  pre-wax, and reflecting a cute kindergartner!

 

 

 

 

 

I first applied a coat of clear wax and finished with a coat of dark wax.  Since this was my first time using waxes, this was rather scary.  I learned a lot about the waxes...what to do and what not to do.  I now know to mix some clear wax with the dark wax....it gives you so much more control over how dark the piece is and eliminates the streaky look.

 

 

But I am still so happy with the results!

 

 

 

 

 

It is so pretty and the perfect place to hold all my creative stuff!  I would like to paint the inside, too, but that is a project for another day!

 

I  am linking up to

Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Friday

Savvy Southern Style

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage